Supporting device for sighting firearms



July 2, 1968 J. o. GALBRAITH SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR SIGHTING FIREARMS Filed May 25, 1966 INVENTOR Jack O. Galbraith ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,390,477 SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR SIGHTING FIREARMS Jack 0. Galbraith, 162 W. Main St, Lewisville, Tex. 75067 Filed May 25, 1966, Ser. No. 552,931 2 Claims. (Cl. 42-.--94) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises an adjustable but rigid support for the upper arm while aiming a gun, either a shoulder stock firearm or a sidearm, and consists essentially of an arm rest, arcuate in transverse section, pivotally attached to the upper end of an extensible supporting element which has its lowermost end bifurcated and inserted in a pair of laterally spaced pockets formed in a plate which is removably supported on a belt about the waist of the user.

The arm rest has one or more straps attached thereto for embracing the upper arm of the user, and is attached to the supporting element so that it can be pivotally adjusted in both vertical and horizontal planes. The lower bifurcated end of the supporting element can be removed from the pockets without detaching the arm rest from the arm of the user.

This invention relates to an arm rest for supporting a gun in firing position, including both shoulder stock guns and sidearms, and it has particular reference to supporting means as hereinafter described, engageable under the upper arm of the user and with a waist encircling member, such as a belt, whereby the arm that supports the gun is adapted to be supported from the waist.

The invention results in improved accuracy because it affords means for positively positioning the gun preparatory to aiming and firing it, and for the further reason that it avoids fatigue.

An advantageous feature of the invention is that it provides a comfortable and sturdy support for the arm that holds the gun, while at the same time supporting the u per arm in its horizontally extending position at a fixed, predetermined angle relative to the horizontal plane.

Another advantageous feature of the invention is that said link, with said first mentioned arcuate member, is attached to the upper arm and is disengaged from the waist, when not in use, so that it does not interfere with walking.

While the foregoing advantages of the invention are paramount, other and lesser objects thereof will become apparent as the description proceeds, when considered in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing fragmentarily a human figure, and showing an arm rest embodying the invention in place, showing how the arm rest is used to support a gun in its firing position, as illustrated.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale showing one side of the arm rest, substantially as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view taken at right angles to the view shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are fragmentary views showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates generally a human figure, shown fragmentarily, and the 3,390,477 Patented July 2, 1968 "ice numeral 11 indicates generally an arm rest embodying the invention, as hereinafter described, in one of its operative positions in which it supports the arm supporting a gun, indicated generally by the numeral 12, in its firing position.

The arm rest 11 includes a first arcuate member 13 which is engageable under the upper arm of the user, as shown in FIGURE 1, and has straps 14 whereby it is adapted to be removably connected thereto.

An extensible link 15, which includes a pair of elongated tubular members 16 and 17 arranged telescopically relative to each other, has one of its ends, which comprises the upper end of the inner tubular member 16, pivotally connected to the under side of the arcuate member 13 for rotative adjustment about a horizontal axis, as hereinafter described, and depends therefrom. The end of the extensible link 15 opposite said one of its ends, which comprises the lower end of the outer tubular memher 17, is bifurcated as at '18.

A second arcuate member 18, which has means as hereinafter described engageable with a waist encircling member, such as the belt 20, whereby it is adapted to be supported thereon, has a pair of laterally spaced pockets 21 therein, as shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, in which the legs of the bifurcated lower end portion 18 of the extensible link 15 are seated.

FIGURE 5 shows the structure whereby the tubular members 16 and 17, which comprise the extensible link 15, are adapted to be secured in any of their adjusted positions relative to each other. The upper end of the outer tubular member 17 is externally threaded, as at 22, for engagement by a nut 23 having a downwardly facing internal shoulder 25 above its threads, and having a resilient O ring 25 received therein, between the shoulder 24 and the opposing end of the tubular member 17, whereby the tubular members 16 and 17 are secured against longitudinal and rotative displacement relative to each other, by frictional engagement of the ring 25 with the opposing surfaces of the tubular members 16 and 17 and the nut 23, upon tightening the nut 23.

As shown in FIGURES 2 to 4, the first mentioned arcuate member 13 is flattened on its under side, as at 26, near its forward end in the applied position of the arm rest 11, as shown in FIGURE 1, and a disc 27, which has a pair of depending lugs 28 thereon, is secured to the under side of the arcuate member 13, in opposing relation to its flattened surface 26, by bolts 29, which are passed through arcuate slots therefor in the arcuate member 13, whereby the arcuate member 13 is adjustable rotatively relative to the disc 27.

The lugs 28 are pivotally connected to the upper end of the inner tubular member 16, as at 30, for rotative adjustment of the arcuate member 13 about a horizontal axis relative to the extensible link 15 whereby to accommodate normal varying inclinations of the upper arm.

As shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, the second arcuate member 19 has a pair of laterally spaced integral clips 31 thereon for engagement with the belt 20.

'FIGURES 7 and 8 show a modified arrangement which includes an arcuate member 39, which corresponds to the second arcuate member 19 shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, and in which a pair of pockets 4'1, one of which is shown, corresponding to the pockets 21 shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, as well as a pair of clips 51, one of which is shown, which correspond to the clips 31 shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, are formed in separate pieces 40, one of which is shown, which are secured to the arcuate member 39 by suitable means, as desired.

The invention may be modified within certain limitations by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an arm rest for supporting a gun in firing position. in combination with a belt worn by the user. the said arm rest comprising a plate. arcuate in transverse section. and conformable to the underside of the upper arm. a telescopically extensible supporting member for said plate having its upper end pivotally and hingedly attached thereto near its forward end whereby the latter can be adjusted vertically and horizontally on said supporting member. the

latter having a bifurcated lower end, and a second plate m l. herein being laterally spaced whereby the legs of said bit'urcated end of said supporting member removably repose therein while supporting said arm rest.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS $59.5 93 1904 Cover 4294 M88684 l2/l91 8 Roe 4294 Ii.200,528 lii/ 1965 Christensen 42-94 Ilr OREIGN PATENTS 11144.25 3 13/1912 Germany.

.154 l .491 l r 1932 Germany.

l5 ROY. D. F RAZIER, Primary Examiner.

:R. P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

